2 Chronicles 22:1-3 "And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. (2) Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. (3) He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly."
After the last devotion, I was eager to look at this morning's Scripture. I
thought it had to get better than the last devotion when we saw that King
Jehoram had "departed without being desired." He had died and
seemingly no one cared. Now his youngest son is king of Judah. He only reigned
for one year. All the older brothers had been killed when the Arabians had come
against Jehoram. His mother was the daughter of Ahab and granddaughter of Omri.
Most likely, she was the daughter of Jezebel. Jehoram had gone into Israel and
married this woman who had such infamy in her family. The influence to evil was
great upon Ahaziah and he followed that which his mother taught him. No doubt
she taught him of worshiping the idols that Israel had erected through the
years of evil kings.
Ahaziah, as did his father, joined league with Israel. Remember at this point
Israel had separated from Judah and idolatry was prevalent in that land.
Jerusalem and the influence of the Lord God was in Judah. The actions of
Ahaziah were displeasing unto the Lord. He was killed while in Samaria. Not
only was he killed, but his brothers and their sons were killed. Athaliah,
mother of Ahaziah, killed the sons of Ahaziah when she saw what happened. Can you
imagine a grandmother killing all her grandchildren? There was one
grandson who had been hidden by his aunt. He would then become king of Judah.
This is such a bleak picture and a rough way to begin the day. But it is
important to see the devastation that can occur when agreements are made with
evil. The influence on this woman who had been married to the king of Judah was
so terrible that her own son died and she then killed all her
grandchildren. There is no doubt that something attracted King Jehoram to
Athaliah, but it could not have been anything godly. The world has such a way
of presenting itself in brilliance and allurement. Satan, himself, is able to
transform into the likeness of an angel of light. It is so important to maintain
our posture of seeking the Lord and His way for our lives. It is imperative not
only for the immediate times, but also for generations to come that we (you and
I) seek the paths of God and walk in them. God is the God of judgment and He
will exact chastisement upon His children.
I pray tomorrow's lesson will be filled with hope instead of despair. I pray
that tomorrow's future for our children and grandchildren will be filled with
hope and not despair.